Slap Stick
In the Face of Tragedy
It’s not easy
to be the opposition in America’s two-party Establishment. You’ve got to please
the boss–Big Business. But, at the same time, you have to relate to those who
elected you–the working class–or you are of no value to the boss.

A growing
majority of American working people are fed up with the war in Iraq. They want
to see an end–now–and the troops brought home. Politicians ignore this powerful
sentiment at their peril.

The standard
Democrat approach thus far had been to criticize Bush for not having an exit
strategy, for not getting enough allies to share the burden, etc., etc. Robert
Brownstein summed things up well in the Los Angeles Times, "Many
Democratic political strategists and foreign policy analysts have long believed
the party can benefit more from criticizing Bush's handling of the war than from
specifying an alternative."

But this
strategy was badly shaken by an unlikely dove--Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.).
Unlike most politicians espousing war policy Murtha has first-hand experience
with the real thing. A much decorated veteran of 37 years in the Marines, Murtha
saw all too well in Vietnam what happens when a hopeless war drags on. Last week
he shocked everyone by abandoning his prior support for the Iraq war and calling
for immediate withdrawal–which he reckons should take no longer than six months
to complete.

Initially
Democrat house leader Nancy Pelosi projected demanding a vote on Murtha’s
withdrawal plan in early December. However, she immediately encountered
opposition and hand-wringing from many "moderate" mules and has scaled back
plans to merely organize an internal party discussion.

Normal decorum
in both chambers on Capitol Hill broke down Friday. After the GOP launched a
vicious personal counterattack against Murtha there was much shouting, fist
waving and gavel banging. It sort of looked like the British House of Commons.

Then the
Republicans got real dirty. Like priests sprinkling holy water they terrorized
the opposition demons with their own worst nightmare–they were forced to vote on
a resolution calling for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Shouting "shame" and
"stunt" all but three voted against. These pot-and-the-kettle exchanges would be
amusing slap-stick if they weren’t part of a great overall tragedy claiming
lives of good people daily.

Opponents of
the war got their attention. Now we must follow through. We have to make it
clear that the Iraq war is not a multiple choice question. If you don’t support
stopping this war now, if you don’t call for bringing the GIs home now,
you are culpable supporters of Bush’s war.

The real
opposition to the war must continue to mobilize in the streets. Already plans
are being laid for local actions across the country–and probably the world–on
the third anniversary of the invasion next March. We’re pleased to report that
Kansas City is early, for once, and a Third Anniversary Mobilization Committee
has been meeting. The labor movement should be in the front ranks of those
demanding "Bring the GIs Home Now!"

Commotion Down
Under
We probably
don’t pay as much attention as we should to labor news from Australia. Reports
of demonstrations against the government’s new labor laws–that gut union power
through "individual workplace agreements"–sure caught our eye. Six-hundred
thousand stayed away from work to march in the streets for basic human labor
rights. 600,000 is one hell of a lot of folks any way you look at it. But
consider this: the population of Australia is roughly equivalent to the
population of Texas. 600,000 down under is equal to 7.5 million in the
USA. Yes, we better pay more attention to what they’re doing down there.

A Bad Taste
Left Behind
We were
shocked to learn that one of our favorite local Mexican restaurants, Sol Azteca
in Rosedale, was one of a group of eateries sued by the Labor Department for
wage and hour violations. All told 52 workers are owed at least $588,215.65 in
back wages. Since there are no unionized restaurants in Kansas City such
cheating is probably much more widespread than we know–especially among
undocumented recent immigrants. Those huge portions of carnitas have
suddenly lost their appeal.

UAW Ranks
Continue to Meet
A second major
meeting of UAW activists gathered last weekend in Kokomo, Indiana to discuss
strategy and tactics in the big fights shaping up at Delphi and General Motors.
We’ve established a new page on the site,
Crisis in Auto, Crisis for Us All, to track these developments
and promote discussion.

Long Break
Coming For News Digest
After our
update this Wednesday, the Daily Labor News Digest will be on break
until the Weekend Edition on December 17. First we will be celebrating the
Thanksgiving holiday. Then I am going on a long road trip that includes a
meeting of the
US Labor Against the War steering committee in Chicago, speaking
at a Socialist Action sponsored public forum in Hartford, Connecticut, and
attending a meeting of the Interim National Council of the
Labor Party in Washington. I do plan to post one more Week In Review, on November
27, before departure.